Bob Helzer
Bob Helzer, 81, died May 11, 2011, at Seton Williamson Hospital in Round Rock after a brief illness. He was born in Scottsbluff, Neb., on Aug. 1, 1929, to John and Katie (Deines) Helzer.
He was raised in Sidney, Neb.
He lived in many cities including Altus, Okla., Alamogordo, N.M., Denver and North Platte, Neb., finally calling Meadowlakes home for the past 13 years.
In his early years, he helped his father run the family shoe-repair business in Sidney, polishing shoes and helping with other tasks. After graduating from Sidney High School in 1947, he joined the Army and served as a personnel clerk at Fort Sheridan in Illinois until his honorable discharge Nov. 1, 1951.
After serving his country, he courted and won the heart of the 1951 Cheyenne County Wheat Queen Mary Ann Hammond. They were married in 1952.
After owning shoe repair shops in Nebraska and Colorado, he sold shoes in Oklahoma and New Mexico before returning to his trained profession of shoe repair and restoration in Denver.
In 1966, he purchased Don’s Shoe Repair in North Platte. For many years, residents would hail him or greet him with his “new” name of Don Helzer. In 1978, he sold the shoe repair and boot store and embarked on a commercial real estate sales career, along with motel ownership and management in Kansas, Nebraska and Texas.
His final job before retiring was owner and manager of Perkins Family Restaurants in North Platte and Kearney, Neb.
Survivors include his wife of 10 years Ruth (Blanton) Helzer; sons Dr. Scott Helzer and wife Carolann Gegenheimer and Bryan Helzer and and wife Katie; daughter Mary Beth (Helzer) Woods and husband Cortney; stepsons Curt Blanton and wife Teri, and Ken Blanton of Marumori, Japan; grandchildren Robbie and Andrew Helzer, James Gegenheimer, Emily Helzer, Seth, Carson and Hayden Woods, and Zane, Calia, Samuel, Tabitha, Justus, Claudia, Talitha, Jeshua, Candace, Toby, Tyndale and Shiloh Blanton; sisters Doris Spearow and Midred Bree; and sister and brother-in-law Marilee (Hammond) and Dan Rowan; sister-in-law Helen Hammond and many close friends.
He was preceded in death by his first wife Mary Ann (Hammond) Helzer; second wife Betty (Miller) Helzer; brother Harry Helzer; sister Wilma (Helzer) Moore; mother Katie (Deines) Helzer; father John Helzer; and brother-in-law Walter Hammond.
A memorial service is 10:30 a.m. May 18 at Grace United Methodist Church, 4007 CR 416 in Granite Shoals. Service and burial arrangements are pending at First United Methodist Church in Sidney, Neb.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Granite Shoals, Gideon’s International or Marble Falls Area EMS Inc.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.
Local arrangements by Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls, (830) 693-4373.